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nNrTnp sTaTns PATENT orriroir.,

CHARLES M. WINDSHIP, OF ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING LACTEAL OR ARTIFICIAL BREASTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 1,985, dated February 18, 1841.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HND- sr-rrr, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nurse- Bottles, my improved article being denominated a Lacteal or Artificial Breast.

These improvements, the principles thereof, the application of the said principles by which the same may be d istinguished from other inventions for a similar pur Jose, together with such parts or combinations as I claim to be my invention and for which I solicit Letters Patent I have herein set forth in the following' description and accompanying' drawings herein referred to, which taken in connection form my specification.

The great objection to the common nursing bottles is that it is exceedingly diflicult to teach most infants to use them, and with many it is altogether impracticable. The peculiar formation of my lacteal7 remedies this objection and enables me to practice a useful deception, viz, inducing the child to think that it derives its nourishment directly from the mother, as it feeds iu the natural position.

I `igures 1 and 2 of the accompanying plate of drawings represent my improvements, -Fig. 1 being a plan of the same and Fig. 2 a transverse vertical sect-ion.

A, lfig. 1, is a circular hollow glass vessel into which the nourishing liquid is introduced. This vessel is shaped in its transverse section, as seen in Fig. 2, like a meniscus lens, the curvature of the back or interior side i ai being sufficient to adapt or accommodate it to the curved projection of the mothers breast. the center of the side, being a little indented or further curved, as shown at so as not to press the nipple and pain the mother. rlhe curvature of the front side C c is nearly p: 1allel to that of the back, that of the side or perimeter being nearly semicircular. A neck or opening Z is formed in the center of the front side c c, to which is connected an artificial nipple e, Figs. 1 and 2, formed of a small piece of sponge (the capillary attraction through which assists the suction of the infant), covered with deer skin wash leather which prevents the liquid from flowing too fast, and which is perforated at the top or center f to permit the egress of the liquid, being bound by a string` or otherwise to the neck of the vessel A. A mouth or receiving tube g is formed at the top of the vessel through which the liquid to be used is introduced.

The wash leather with which the artificial nipple is formed, should be washed in warm water, before it is applied in order to extract the coloring. The artificial nipple should be washed daily to keep it sweet and free.

ri`he mouth g of the lacteal should never be entirely stopped as some air must necessarily be admitted to enable the child to draw the liquid.

It will be perceived that the lacteal may be used in the hand as a common nurse bottle by fitting the mouth g with a cork and the common ivory or silver tube, but if tubes are used it would be prefe able to attach the artificial nipple above described at their ends, as a soft substance is less liable to increase the difiiculty of dentition and the liquid is apt to fiow too fast from the tubes.

' lf we wish to imitate still more closely the natural breast, we can apply to the front of the lacteal a flesh colored elastic pad or cushion, but this is seldom necessary.

Having thus described my improvements I shall claim as-my invention,

1. A nurse bottle shaped and curved in its several parts, so as to be used at the breast, and formed with a neck and mouth substantially as above described.

2. And I also claim in combination with the above an artificial nipple composed of sponge and wash leather, the whole forming what I denominate a lacteal or artificial breast.7 as above specified.

In testimony that the above is a true description of my said invention and improvement I have hereto set my signature this thirty-first day of October, in the year eighteen hundred and forty.

CHARLES M. VVINDSHIP.

Witnesses z R. H. EDDY, EZRA LINCOLN, Jr. 

